Belmont Park Notes

NYRA PRESS RELEASE —-

Vino Rosso in good order following G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup; No plans to appeal disqualification
Code of Honor emerges from G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in good order; Breeders’ Cup still uncertain
Imperial Hint keeps marching to Breeders’ Cup Sprint after dramatic G1 Vosburgh victory
Following G2 Beldame win, Midnight Bisou looks to bolster awards candidacy in G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Tacitus heading back to Saratoga following third-place JCGC
Brown satisfied with JCGC Day efforts; looking forward to Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Racing Festival
Americanus could target G3 Nashua following successful career debut
Catholic Boy breezes on the turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Vino Rosso nosed out Code of Honor in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, but was demoted to second following a stewards’ inquiry and jockey’s claim of foul by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

The pacesetting Vino Rosso, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, was engaged by a rallying Code of Honor for the stretch run of the 1 ¼-mile event with the rivals going eye-to-eye in the final furlong. Ortiz, Jr. moved Vino Rosso out from the rail, bumping with Code of Honor, who came over a path, multiple times as the pair arrived at the wire in a final time of 2:00.30.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was disappointed with the disqualification.

“To me, it was a classic horse race from the top of the stretch to the finish line. Two horses hooked up and they brushed, but to me, no horse was ever knocked off stride and neither horse lost momentum because of it,” said Pletcher. “It was a piece of race riding; Irad drifted out a little bit, Johnny drifted in a little bit. I’ve watched a lot of races and I felt pretty comfortable watching the head on there would not be a disqualification and I was surprised when there was.”

Pletcher said there would be no appeal of the stewards’ decision.

“I don’t believe there will be an appeal. I spoke to both owners last night and they were sort of split,” said Pletcher. “They agreed they would not appeal but I plan to meet with the stewards today as well to get an explanation of what they saw. I didn’t feel like I saw the same thing, but seldom in these appeal situations does anything ever come out of it.”

Ironically, Ortiz. Jr. picked up the call aboard Vino Rosso as Velazquez was committed to Code of Honor. Ortiz, Jr utilized a front-running style in the five-horse Gold Cup, against the grain of the Curlin chestnut’s usual stalking trip.

“Our strategy was to come out of the gate and not necessarily expect to be on the lead but we got a clean break and no one else took the initiative,” said Pletcher. “I thought he had a good trip and seemed very comfortable being on the lead.”

Pletcher said he was proud of the way Vino Rosso dug in down the lane.

“We felt he’s the kind of horse if he has time to see his competition, which he did, he can dig down and find a little more,” said Pletcher. “He was able to keep his head in front and I thought it was a gallant effort on his part.”

Bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther, Vino Rosso, who launched his 4-year-old campaign with a victory in the one-mile Stymie at Aqueduct in March, boasts a record of 5-1-3 from 14 starts with purse earnings in excess of $1.5 million boosted by wins in the 2018 Grade 2 Wood Memorial and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Gold Cup in May.

Pletcher said Vino Rosso, who skipped the nine-furlong Grade 1 Woodward presented by NYRA Bets last month, is demonstrating a preference for the mile and a quarter distance as he matures.

“A mile and a quarter is an ideal distance for him. He has a high cruising speed and he’s able to keep running those fractions quarter after quarter, similar to what he did in the Santa Anita Gold Cup,” said Pletcher. “That’s one of the reasons why we decided to pass on the Woodward and go to the Jockey Club because the mile and a quarter is the perfect distance for him.”

Pletcher said Vino Rosso has exited the Jockey Club Gold Cup in good order.
“Vino Rosso came out of the race terrific. He cooled out well last night and he was full of himself this morning,” said Pletcher.

Despite the disappointment, Pletcher said Vino Rosso is aging like a fine wine and will point the colt to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2 at Santa Anita Park.

“We feel good about it. He seems to be maintaining his form. He started out the beginning of the year going a mile and we’re counting yesterday, essentially, as a win,” said Pletcher. “He’s maintaining form and getting better all the time. We always felt that the older he got, the better he’d get and that seems to be the case.”
* * *
Code of Honor emerges from G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in good order; Breeders’ Cup still uncertain

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said Code of Honor came back well from his victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday at Belmont Park, where he was elevated to first place following the disqualification of Vino Rosso.

The sophomore chestnut son of Noble Mission arrived at the Jockey Club Gold Cup off of a victory in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga. He became the first horse since Summer Bird in 2009 to capture a Travers-Jockey Club Gold Cup double.

The victory made the W.S. Farish homebred a likely frontrunner for Champion 3-Year-Old.

“He came back fine,” said McGaughey, who previously won the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Valandingham (1985), Easy Goer (1989) and Miner’s Mark (1993). “He looked good last night, and he looked good this morning. We’ll see as we go along.”

While McGaughey did not rule out a start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, he did not make any commitments.

“I’ll see how he comes out of it and talk to Mr. Farish as the week goes a long and we’ll make up our mind,” McGaughey said. “I’ll possibly give him some time and try and bring him back in the spring. Maybe the [Grade 1] Carter at Aqueduct and the [Grade 3] Westchester here.”

McGaughey believes that the Jockey Club Gold Cup win puts Code of Honor atop his 3-year-old division.

“I would think so,” McGaughey said. “I was very confident going into the Travers. I was confident going into this race that he was going to run his race, but stepping up against some nice older horses you never know until you try. I was very pleased with the way he ran and to step it up against some accomplished older horses was a big accomplishment for Code of Honor.”

McGaughey said the stewards made the right call to elevate Code of Honor.

“I thought we were [the best horse]. I thought we had that horse and we got banged and he came out and hit us a couple of times,” McGaughey said. “You can see how much Vino Rosso drifted out and [jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said the second time he hit him, it kind of knocked him off balance. He came back and finished and got beat a nose, so I thought we were the best.”

Code of Honor has amassed over $2.2 million in lifetime earnings and has five victories in nine starts.

* * *
Imperial Hint keeps marching to Breeders’ Cup Sprint after dramatic G1 Vosburgh victory

A day after Raymond Mamone’s Imperial Hint battled back in the stretch to edge Firenze Fire by a nose in the Grade 1, $300,000 Vosburgh, winning trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr. said the color finally returned to his face.

“My friend [and fellow trainer] Arnaud Delacour texted me to congratulate me and said, ‘Why do you look so pale in the [winner’s circle] picture?'” Carvajal said with a laugh.

Imperial Hint came out of his second straight Grade 1 win even better, building on his four-length win in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

“He came back last night; we waited a couple of hours to give him dinner, and he went right into the feed tub,” Carvajal said. “This morning, his feed tub was clean, and he looks happy. We went over him and everything looks perfectly fine and I couldn’t be happier with how he came back from the race.”

Imperial Hint earned an all-fees paid entry to the six-furlong Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on November 2 at Santa Anita Park, where he will look to solidify his status as the nation’s top sprinter after winning his last two races at that distance following his third-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March at Meydan Racecourse.

In his bid to repeat as the Vosburgh winner, Imperial Hint, under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, led the four-horse field through the opening quarter and half miles before the Jason Servis-trained Firenze Fire briefly took the edge in the stretch. Battling eye-to-eye, Imperial Hint, the 1-5 favorite, got up in the final jumps to win the bob, becoming the first repeat winner since Private Zone in 2013-14.

“It’s a four-horse field but I always have a lot of respect for Jason’s horse because I think he loves the track,” Carvajal said. “You have to run the races. My horse looked like he was a little too confident and got surprised. But he’s a racehorse and has a lot of heart. The way he did it, it’s impressive. To see the crowd giving a standing ovation to him, it was great.”

Last year, Imperial Hint took the same route to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, winning the Vosburgh before finishing third in the Sprint at Churchill Downs. Carvajal said a competitive race leading into this year’s edition in California could be a useful springboard to stay sharp.

“Last year, he won it easy and was geared down towards the end, and sometimes that doesn’t help the horse,” he said. “After seeing him run yesterday and fight back, I think this race really was good for him. It should get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Carvajal said Imperial Hint seemed to dislike the Churchill track last year but is hopeful he fares better at Santa Anita, where he will be racing for the first time. The 6-year-old son of Imperialism has won at six different tracks: Tampa Bay Downs, Parx, Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Belmont and Saratoga. He also ran second in the 2017 Sprint the last time the Breeders’ Cup was held in California, where he finished a length behind Roy H that day at Del Mar.

“This horse, he’s never been one that had to take his track with him to run good,” he said. “He’s won a lot of places. When he ran at Del Mar, he ran a super race and got beat by a really good horse and finished second. I have a good feeling he’s going to run really good at Santa Anita, and off this race, I don’t think the [Breeders’ Cup] could come at a better time.”

This year’s edition of the Sprint could feature a slew of talented runners to compete against Imperial Hint, including Roy H, Mitole, Shancelot and Promises Fulfilled.

“It’s going to be a great race and I think it’ll be one of the best races there,” Carvajal said. “I’m looking forward to that race and he defiantly deserves a chance to get in there and the recognition. Seeing the reaction of the fans to him at Saratoga and Belmont, and the standing ovation yesterday, they know what kind of horse he is.”

* * *
Following G2 Beldame win, Midnight Bisou looks to bolster awards candidacy in G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing’s Midnight Bisou came out of her 3 ¼-length win in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Beldame in good order, co-owner Jeff Bloom said Sunday morning. Bloom said her victory at 1 1/8 miles on Belmont Park’s fast main track will set her up for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Midnight Bisou overcame multiple bumps against the chute in the Beldame to still be forwardly placed, staying off Spring in the Wind’s early fractions before taking command a drawing away to stay undefeated in her 4-year-old campaign. The daughter of Midnight Lute improved to 7-for-7 this year, with all victories against graded stakes company.

“Words can’t describe it. She’s a remarkable filly who has provided all of us with a run of a lifetime,” Bloom said. “Yesterday’s performance was just another validation of her talent.”

With John Velazquez picking up the mount from fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Midnight Bisou won for the second straight time at the Distaff’s distance of 1 1/8 miles, adding to her victory by a neck over Elate in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Travers Day, August 24, at Saratoga Race Course. She also improved to 3-for-3 all-time at Belmont, adding to her 3 ½-length score in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on Belmont Stakes Day June 8 and the 2018 Grade 2 Mother Goose.

“She came out of the race in excellent shape; as good as she went into it,” Bloom said. “She’s scheduled to ship out tomorrow to fly west and go to her new home base for fall in Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.”

Midnight Bisou’s last loss came in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, where she finished a competitive third behind Wow Cat and the winner Monomoy Girl at Churchill Downs. The Steve Asmussen trainee has never finished off the board in 18 career starts, compiling a 12-3-3 record with earnings of $3.41 million for the Hall of Fame conditioner.

This year, Midnight Bisou has amassed wins at five different tracks, including the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston, the Grade 2 Azeri and Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park in addition to her success at the Spa and Belmont.

Midnight Bisou has beaten five-time graded stakes Elate in all three meetings this year, including the Azeri and the Personal Ensign in which they ran 1-2. That success propelled Midnight Bisou to second behind Bricks and Mortar in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll, making her a strong contender for Eclipse Awards for both Older Dirt Female and, potentially, Horse of the Year.

“Just objectively looking at the body of her work and her campaign starting in January, she’s showed up every time and had to battle against the best and she’s beaten them all to this point,” Bloom said. “She has quality and quantity and a great resume. Certainly, capping things off in the Distaff would be a huge statement and one would have to think If you compare her to others and what they are doing, she’s a Horse of the Year candidate.”

* * *
Tacitus heading back to Saratoga following third-place JCGC

Juddmonte Farms’ Tacitus, piloted by Jose Ortiz, pressed the pace of Vino Rosso en route to finishing third in Saturday’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets winner has hit the board in eight of nine starts, including runner-up efforts in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Mott assistant Leanna Willaford said Tacitus was in good order on Sunday morning before heading back to Mott’s Saratoga base.

“He looked good this morning and ate up his feed. We put him on the van and he’s headed back up to Saratoga,” said Willaford.

Willaford said she was pleased with the effort by the $1.67 million earner in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“It was a bit of a tough race. He broke so well. I almost wonder if we should have went on a little more early,” said Willaford. “Where he goes next will be up to Bill and Juddmonte.”

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Channel Maker worked four furlongs in 49.24 seconds on the Oklahoma training track Sunday morning in Saratoga. The English Channel chestnut, who boasts in excess of $2 million in purse earnings, will look to defend his title in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

* * *
Brown satisfied with JCGC Day efforts; looking forward to Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Racing Festival

Conditioner Chad Brown continued his dominance at the Belmont Park fall meet on Jockey Club Gold Cup Day saddling two winners to remain atop the trainer standings with 15 wins from 55 starters.

In the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim for juveniles, Brown saddled Structor for owners Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. The Palace Malice colt, purchased for $850,000 at the Ocala Breeders Sale in March, won his debut by 1 1/4 lengths on August 31 at Saratoga. Making his second start in the turf Pilgrim, he traveled three-wide for most of the way and closed strong to finish a head in front of Andesite.

“I thought it was a strong performance and he looks to have come out of the race well so far,” said Brown. “He showed a lot of promise with the trip he got and showed his ability. Looking ahead he should appreciate going a mile in the Breeders’ Cup [Juvenile Turf].”

Two races prior in the card, Brown sent out the regally-bred Princesa Caroline for an impressive debut win. Sired by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and out of Sacre Coeur, Princesa Caroline is a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Lady Eli. The talented filly comfortably extended away from the field of nine to win by 3 1/2 lengths on the inner turf.

“I thought she ran well and it was nice to get her a win to start her career like Lady Eli did,” said Brown. “Ideally, I’d like to run her in a stakes race somewhere next. I’ll talk to the owners and we’ll come up with a plan.”

In the Grade 2, $200,000 Beldame, Brown sent out graded stakes winner Wow Cat who ran a game second beaten 3 1/4 lengths to Midnight Bisou.

“I thought it was a good effort,” said Brown. “I’ll talk to the owners and see where we go from here.”

On Sunday morning, Brown sent out a brigade of stakes workers for upcoming assignments. Turf division leaders Bricks and Mortar breezed in tandem with Sistercharlie, completing five furlongs in 1:01.12.

Ya Primo, pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.98 in company with Without Parole, winner of the 2018 Group 1 St. James’s Palace at Ascot; while Digital Age and Blowout covered four furlongs in 48.83.

Uni and Rushing Fall worked in company completing five furlongs in 1:00.21. Cambier Parc, last out winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, closed out Brown’s notable turf workers breezing five furlongs in 1:00.12 in tandem with Café Americano.

“I thought everyone looked good this morning, said Brown. “I still haven’t decided what race we’re going to go for. We’re still between a couple of Breeders’ Cup races before we decide.

“Cambier Parc will point to the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland,” he added. “With Ya Primo, we’ll look to switch up his running style in the Joe Hirsch. He ran off on the lead in the Sword Dancer so we’ll regroup. He’s a much better horse than he showed there. We know that.”

* * *
Americanus could target G3 Nashua following successful career debut

Following a successful first out graduation on Saturday at Belmont, Courtlandt Farms’ Americanus is not ruled out of a start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua on November 3 at Aqueduct.

Trained by Mark Hennig and guided to victory by Manny Franco, the 2-year-old son of War Front is out of the Mineshaft broodmare Sapphiresndiamonds. His fourth generation dam is the prolific broodmare Lassie Dear, whose offspring produced notable sires and American Classic winners A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid and Summer Squall.

“On paper, it looked like one of those Saratoga maiden races,” Hennig said. “I hope that they all run back well and it does end up being a good race. I was confident in the horse going in and when I looked at the entries I saw how salty it really came up. He had trained really well. His last breeze leading up to the race was real nice. He’s done things within himself the whole time. It seemed like he had to think about it before he ran by that last horse. But he was pretty professional otherwise.”

Hennig was not committed to the one-mile Nashua, but said Americanus would definitely be nominated.

“He’s got some route distance in his pedigree,” Hennig said. “We’ll see how he comes out of it and see how that race shapes up, but we will definitely nominate to it.”

Lake Star Stables and Bourbon Lane Stables’ Bourbon War worked over the Belmont turf on Sunday, completing a half-mile in 48.55 seconds under jockey Jose Lezcano.

Hennig said the well-bred Tapit sophomore would point to Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince over the inner turf.

“He’s doing things easy out there,” Hennig said. “I know the turf course is quick but I was on the radio telling Lezcano not to move the whole time. I thought he finished up nicely. Right now [the Hill Prince] is the target.”

Bourbon War made his turf debut last out in the Better Talk Now, where he was second beaten a half-length to Front Run the Fed. A contender in two-thirds of the Triple Crown, Bourbon War is still in search of a stakes victory but was second to Code of Honor in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in the winter.

Hennig said Bourbon War, who is the first offspring out of multiple graded stakes winner My Conquestadory, seems to take to the turf better than he has the main track.

“I think we found his surface,” Hennig said. “He still has some things with being a little green and we’ve got to figure out all the intricacies with his Tapit attitude when he gets up beside horses. I added some cheek pieces in training lately and I think it’s helped keep him in a straight line.”

* * *
Catholic Boy breezes on the turf

Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Catholic Boy breezed four furlongs in 47.66 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano on the Belmont turf on Sunday morning.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas, the 4-year-old More Than Ready bay won Grade 1 races on turf and dirt last year with scores in the Runhappy Travers and Belmont Derby Invitational.

Catholic Boy opened his 2019 campaign with a win in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico and has not raced since finishing second last out in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 6 at Belmont.

Thomas said Catholic Boy was full of energy on his return to turf following a string of dirt works at Saratoga and Belmont.

“He went a good half-mile,” said Thomas. “I wanted to let him stretch his legs and I felt it was a really nice move. His energy level was great and they caught him in 47 and 3 which is a pretty stout work as the dogs were pretty far out.”

Thomas said he is taking a cautious approach in preparing Catholic Boy for his next start.

“We’ve had a couple of niggling issues – nothing major. I’d hate to take him over feeling under prepared,” said Thomas. “Sometimes, we’re going to get beat under the best of circumstances, so we’re taking our time. I feel he’s been good the past couple of weeks and the work today was particularly good.”

Ideally, Thomas would like Catholic Boy to make his next start at the Breeders’ Cup with a trio of options available for the versatile ridgling including the Grade 1, Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 ¼-miles on dirt; the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on the turf; and the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“We’ll go week by week with him. Clearly, we’d love to be on target for a Breeders’ Cup race but I don’t know which race that would be yet,” said Thomas. “I’m not sure if that’s exactly the plan. If we can have some continuity in the next few weeks, I think it would put us in position to go to the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’d more likely go to the Mile than the mile and a half [Grade 1, Breeders’ Cup Turf],” added Thomas. “I think he has a propensity for speed and I’d rather cut back a little bit to the mile than take on mile and a half horses for the first time – especially, when it’s versus the best in the world.”

Thomas said the myriad of options for Catholic Boy is a welcome blessing.

“That’s the cool thing about him. All three are races we could explore,” said Thomas. “If the Classic is wide open, it’s something we’d have to consider but there’s also the Dirt Mile or the Mile on the grass. They’re good options to have. We love his versatility and it’s part of what’s made him so special for everybody.”